INDUCTION OF CRYSTALLIZATION OF SPECIFIC CALCIUM OXALATE HYDRATES IN MICELLAR SOLUTIONS OF SURFACTANTS

ABSTRACT

The influence of octaethylene glycol mono-n-hexadecyl ether (C₁₆EO₈) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on the crystallization of calcium oxalate from 0.3 mol dm⁻³ sodium chloride solutions has been investigated. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of C₁₆EO₈ in water and 0.3 mol dm⁻³ NaCl was determined by surface tension measurements (CMC_H2O=CMC_NaCl = 7.2.10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³). The kinetics of precipitation of calcium oxalate was followed by Coulter counter, and solid phases were characterized by polarized microscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Under the precipitation conditions employed, the thermodynamically stable monohydrate, CaC₂O₄•H₂O (COM) was the predominant crystalline form. In the presence of micellar solutions of C₁₆EO₈ precipitation of this phase was facilitated as evidenced by higher initial precipitation rates and higher precipitate volume and number of particles, as compared to the controls. Micellar solutions of 50S retarded precipitation but induced crystallization of calcium oxalate dihydrate, CaC₂O₄•(2+×)H₂O (COD, x≤0.5). Thus at c(SDS>CMC the precipitates contained ≥85 mass % COD. The results are discussed in relation to previously reported data on the precipitation of calcium oxalate in the presence of dodecyl ammonium chloride